Good afternoon, listeners and welcome to our program "Information for New Migrants". Today we have Mr John Yamamoto and he will talk to us about how to get a job in Australia. Mr Yamamoto, welcome to our program.
Thank you very much.
Now, how easy or how hard is it to get a job in Australia?
This is a very interesting question. I am sure everyone is asking how do I get a job? First of all, you need to decide what job that you want to do.
And why do you think this is important?
Because there are different types of work a person can do. There are people, for example, who would like to work 9 to 5. Others don’t like to work in an office. They like to use their hands and do things. Still others don’t like to work 5 days a week or maybe they want to work in the evening or at weekends.
So what can a person do after deciding what job he or she wants?
They have to create a resume. Some people like to call it a CV.
What is that? Can you give our listeners some information?
A CV or a resume is a document that has information about you. It has your contact details and some information about your education and work history.
Is that all?
No, you still need to use the names of two or three people who can be your references. You need to ask those people for permission before you put their contact details in your resume.
Can a person use his or her spouse?
No, they can’t. They need to use the names of people who know about their work.
And how do people find jobs?
Well, they have to do a lot of research to find a suitable job. They can go online, for example, and look for work that they really want to do.
If they don’t know how to do that, what can they do?
If they don’t want to go online, they can go to an employment agency to help them get work. AMES has a very good employment agency and they help thousands of people every year to gain employment.
Where else can people get work?
They can buy the Age newspaper on Saturday. It has an employment section and I am sure they can find something that interests them.
What do you think is the biggest problem for anyone who is new to Australia and wants to get a job?
English. English is sometimes the biggest problem for many people. If you don’t speak good English, you may not get the job you want. Speaking good English will open the doors for you to do many things.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Yes, if you have a qualification from your country, sometimes it is not good enough to allow you to work in Australia. Some people say they have been working as doctors or engineers in their own countries for a long time. This cannot guarantee that they will get the same jobs here.
Why is that?
Because our education and training in Australia is different. I know that those people feel upset and sometimes angry but they can go and study to get an Australian qualification.
Is it easy for people to study in Australia?
Oh, yes. If you are a permanent resident, it is easy for you to start studying at a local TAFE for example. It does not cost much but once you have an Australian qualification and speak good English, you will see how easy it is to get a job.
What sort of courses are in high demand nowadays?
Well, there is a web site called Skills Victoria and it has a lot of information about training and education.
Can you give our listeners the web address for Skills Victoria, please?
It is www.skills.vic.gov.au. It can open the doors for the listeners to find out what courses that are there. I know a lot of people who changed their careers completely after starting to live in Australia.
What do people need to do after typing a resume?
They need to send the resume to as many workplaces as possible. I remember I sent my resume to more than 20 different companies before I got my first job in Australia. I want our listeners to remember that they can NOT use the same resume to apply for different jobs. They need to make some changes each time they email or send a resume to an employer.
Why is that? Why can’t I send one resume to all employers?
Because employers want different things from workers. For example, someone may advertise a job because he or she needs someone who can type 70 words per minute to work at their workplace. Another employer may not need someone who types that fast. It differs from one workplace to the other.
What can a person do after sending a resume to an employer?
He or she can telephone the employer to make sure they have received the resume. It is a chance for the person to get a feeling and see if they will get the job or not. May be the person who answers the phone is not friendly and after the phone call you decide that you don’t want to work there.
Is talking to friends and family members important too?
Yes, if you tell your friends and family members that you are looking for work, they may be able to help you. If they see a job ad in a newspaper, they may tell you. Most of the people who get work know how important this can be.
Is there anything else that our new immigrants need to be aware of?
Yes, it is not impossible to get work in Australia. The first job may be difficult to get but they need to put a lot of effort into finding work.
And work is also good for socializing. Do you agree?
Yes, of course. When you go to work, you learn new things and at the same time you make friends. You learn about different cultures that live in Australia. It is really good to go to work every day.
Well, Mr Yamamoto, we have to end our program here. Thanks for coming today and for providing us with this useful information.
Not at all. It’s a pleasure to be here.
